APPEAL TO SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE DESCRIBING THE TERRIBLE CONDITIONS AND POVERTY IN YERUSHOLAYIM IN 1870, SIGNED ...

APPEAL TO SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE DESCRIBING THE TERRIBLE CONDITIONS AND POVERTY IN YERUSHOLAYIM IN 1870, SIGNED BY LEADING RABBIS AND COMMUNAL LEADERS.

Letter dated 2nd Tammuz 5630 describing the ‘frightening conditions ... the rains did not come ... the good crops were destroyed and the terrible locusts filled our land, bringing the cost of food sky-high, and beyond the means of local residents ...’

In a rare display of unity, the letter is signed by the rabbis and communal leaders of Yerusholayim’s Sefardim, Morrocans, Ashkenazim and Perushim. The signatories are: Rabbi Avraham Ashkenazi – Rishon Letzion, Rabbi Moshe Benvenisti, Rabbi David Ben-Shimon, Rabbi Refael Meir Fanizel, Rabbi Avraham Eisenstein of Drohotshin, Rabbi Ze’ev HaCohen of Pinsk, Rabbi Meir Kameikin of Anikst, Rabbi Meir Lutziner of Minsk, Rabbi Ahron Moshe Baumgarten – a disciple of the Chassam Sofer, Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda Lowy, Rabbi Moshe Eliezer Dan Ralbag, Rabbi Yochanan Hirsh Schlank, Rabbi Issac Yaffe of Druie and the famous printer and activist R. Nissan Bak.

Rabbi Avraham Ashkenazi (1811-1880), Dayan and Av Beis Din of the Sefardi community in Yerushalayim, who succeeded Rabbi Chaim David Chazan as Chief Rabbi and Rishon Letzion.

Rabbi David Ben-Shimon (1824-1880), disciple of Rabbi Saadia Maardji in Rabat, Morocco, organised a separate Morrocan community in Yerushalayim, establishing synagogues and communal institutions and raising funds for the community.

Rabbi Refael Meir Fanizel (1804-1893), emissary for the Yerushalyim community to Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and Italy. A distinguished rabbi also renowned as a miracle-worker. Appointed Sefardi Chief Rabbi – Rishon Letzion in 1880. Author of Lev Hamerapeh.

Rabbi Avraham Eisenstein of Drohotshin (1800-1886), son-in-law of Rabbi Chaim Cohen Av Beth Din of Pinsk, and travelled with him to Tzefas among other disciples of the Vilna Gaon. Dayan in Tzefas (1834) and lost his family in the earthquake of 1837, after-which he settled in Yerusholayim, where he headed the Vaad Hakelali.

Rabbi Meir Kameikin of Anikst (d. 1885), rabbinical emissary and leader of Kollel Vilna.

Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda Lowy (1813-1889), distinguished disciple of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman of Lipshitz – Chemdas Shlomo and brother of the famous Rabbi Nachum of Shadik. He served as Rosh Beth Din in Yerusholayim and headed Kollel Polin as well as the Vaad Hakelali. Author of Bayis L’Avos.

Rabbi Moshe Eliezer Dan Ralbag (1832-1895), a leading disciple of Rabbi Shmuel Salant and Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib of Kutna, Mashgiach and later Rosh Yeshiva of Etz Chaim. Author of Damesek Eliezer.

Rabbi Yochanan Hirsh Schlank (1815-1884), a disciple of the Chassam Sofer and son-in-law of Rabbi David Tevele Berlin (son of Rabbi Shlomo Hirshel of London). He settled in Yerusholayim and was a founder of Kollel Hod (Holland – Deutschland) and of Yeshivas Etz Chaim.

1 side. 22 x 27 cm. Good condition.